Michael Brown: The Only Hope for America is the Revival of the Church

April 19, 2019

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What happens when a nation loses its conscience? When the light barely shines in the darkness? When truth is obscured by lies? We can answer those questions with another question: What does America look like in 2019?

We are a nation adrift. A nation confused. A nation in danger of completely losing our moral bearings. A nation where right is now wrong, and wrong is now right. A nation where evil is celebrated and virtue is denigrated.

But I don’t primarily blame the society at large for these problems. I don’t primarily blame the people of the world (although, to be sure, each individual will give account to God for his or her actions).

I blame us, the believers, the followers of Jesus. We who claim to speak for God.

I blame us, the ones who are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

There is too much compromise in our midst. Too much carnality. Too much worldliness. Too much hypocrisy. Too little encounter with the living God. And that’s why so many churches are bleeding members.

As the brand new Gallup poll reports, “U.S. Church Membership Down Sharply in Past Two Decades.” Yes, “Half of Americans are church members, down from 70% in 1999.” And “Membership has fallen nine points among those who are religious.”

In my view, one of the biggest reasons people are leaving the church is because they are not truly encountering the Lord (or, are no longer interested in Him). And, quite naturally, decreased church membership quickly translates into decreased church influence.

Put another way, less light shining means more darkness. And the less brightly that light shines, the more the darkness prevails.

Really now, how can we change the world if we have become like the world? How can we point people to Jesus when we hardly resemble Him? How can we call for social transformation when we haven’t experienced (or, are not currently walking in) personal transformation?

I’m truly thankful for the millions of committed Jesus-followers in America today. They are swimming against the tide and going against the grain, no matter the cost. They are raising their children in godliness and keeping their marriages holy. And as singles, they are living with real integrity.

They are good witnesses on their jobs. They are making a difference in their communities. They are rich in good works. They are sharing their faith with friend and foe alike.